Binder for sheet-music



(No Model.)

G. S. FOWLER. BINDER FOR SHEET MUSIC.

Patented June 2'7, 1893.

RR s PETERS ca, wc'rouw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. FOl/VLER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

BINDER FOR SHEET-MUSIC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,482, dated June 27, 1893.

Application filed November 7, 1892. Serial No. 451,133- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that 1, CHARLES S. FOWLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binders for Sheet- Music, 850., of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a binder for the preservation of sheet-music, letters, briefs and indeed of any matter either printed or written on sheets of paper either folded or single, which binder shall be simple and durable in operation, easily and conveniently manipulated, and cheap of manufacture, all of which will be apparent from the description and claims hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawingsz-Figure 1, illustrates my improved binder open in an operative position. dotted line 2, 2, of Fi g. 1,the sheets retained within the folded retaining strip being separated more widely than whatthey are in actual practice, said exaggerated view being designed to more clearly illustrate the manner in which the sheets of music or other matter are retained to said strip.- Fig. 3, is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of my improved binder, said view illustrating the mode of connecting the sheets to the binder before the retaining strip is secured to place. Fig. 4, is a transverse section of a binder, folded, said view being a modification of that shown in preceding figures. Fig. 5, is an enlarged detached view of one of the flexible connecting strips or hinges which form the connection between the leaves to be bound and the staples of the binder. Fig. 6 is a section through a portion of my improved binder shown in Fig. 1,said view showing thebinder open with its contents also open or separated.

My improved binder consists of the covers A, A, joined by a back B, which latter is flexible. If desired, the back and covers may be formed of one continuous piece of suitable flexible material, in which event the binder and its contents may be folded or rolled into a compact form.

To the inner face of the back B, and to one longitudinal side thereof, I preferably attach a flexible retaining strip C, as shown, which Fig. 2, is a section taken on strip is adapted to fold upon itself and engage the connecting strips or hinges cl, at the free end thereof, the other end of said strips or hinges being attached to or connected with the sheet-music or other matter to be bound, as shown. The hinges d may be formed of any suitable flexible material, and may be attached to the leaves to be bound in any desired manner; but I prefer to employ a strip of linen-backed paper for this purpose, with an elongated enlarged portion d which latter is preferably gummed on one side to adhere to the leaves to be bound, as shown. When the leaves are folded, I prefer to pass the hinge portion d through an opening in the folded or creased portion of the leaf, after which the portion 01 is attached to the inner face ofone of the folded leaves, I); but, this feature of attaching the flexible hinges d to the leaves D forms no feature of my present invention, and I do not claim the same, broadly, herein.

My presentinvention consists of connecting the flexible strips or hinges d to the flexible back B of the covers, and that preferably by means of the flexible strip C and staples E, the latter passing through said back, hinges and flexible strip,-the bifurcated portions 6 of said staples being separated and compressed down on the outside of said strip, as shown. The back, hinges and retaining strip are all provided with suitable openings through which the retaining staples are passed.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a modification of my improved binder in which the retaining strip 0, shown in preceding figures, is dispensed with, and the retaining staples are passed through the flexible hinges and through two portions of the back B, the bifurcated end portions of said staples being bent and locked on the outside of said back. When constructed as shown in Fig. 4:, it has been found by actual experience that the tangs of said staples are liable to catch against objects, and also that the projecting portion of the back will not permit the binder to lay flat against the piano or other instrument; and, for reason of the aforementioned inconveniences, I prefer the use of the internal flexible strip 0. The use of this internal retaining strip permits the tangs of the staples to be thoroughly protected by the back of the cover, and also permits the latter to be opened out approximately flat against a musical instrument or other support.

Any device, the equivalent of the staples, may be passed through the flexible back and hinges; but, the form of staple shown is preferred.

The advantages of my invention are numerous and apparent. The construction is such as to afford an efficient and economical binder for various purposes, especially for sheet-music. To bind a loose sheet of music, all that is required is simply to attach the flexible hinges d thereto, and then compress the free ends of the staples together, at which time the retaining strip may be removed therefrom as shown in Fig.3; the hinges are then attached to said staples to which the free edge of the retaining strip is again attached, when the binding is complete. The construction also admits of any one sheet of music being readily removed from the portfolio, and also admits of a sheet being inserted therein at will.

My invention is especially advantageous to music instructors, students, traveling agents to carry illustrated samples, and in fact to all persons desiring a convenient binder for preserving loose sheets which might otherwise become lost or destroyed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the loose leaves having flexible hinges d, the binder consisting of a cover with a flexible back, said hinges being attached thereto by means of staples E, passed through said hinges and flexible back, substantially as set forth.

2. A binder consisting of a cover having a flexible back, with a flexible strip attached to the inner face of said back, the free edge of said strip being adapted to fold over the free end portion of the flexible hinges (I attached to the leaves D, said hinges being retained within said folded strip by means of staples passed through said hinges and folded strip and locked thereto, substantially as set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a binder consisting of a cover having a flexible back B with the flexible strip 0 attached to the inner face of said back, said flexible strip being adapted to overlap the hinged extensions of the separable leaves to be bound, and suitable means for detachably connecting said hinged portions within said flexible strip.

CHARLES S. FOWLER.

Witnesses:

O. M. HILL, W. B. Bruce. 

